Chapter 222: The Sleeping Konan, and Naruto!

Chapter 222: Chapter 222: The Sleeping Konan, and Naruto!

Night covered the earth as the familiar lights of Konoha Village seemed unusually dark and cold tonight.

On the Hokage Rock, Shūichi stood with his Sage Mode activated, his robes fluttering in the night breeze.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him.

Jiraiya smiled and said, "Looks like they really aren't coming."

Shūichi nodded slightly.

Even though he knew Nagato's decision, he had still followed through with the plan to relocate the villagers to shelters. At the very least, it served as a useful drill.

Gazing down at the quiet village, Jiraiya asked, "If Nagato learns the truth about the Rinnegan and the Eye of the Moon Plan, do you think he might turn back?"

Shūichi shook his head. "That would be highly unlikely."

"He doesn't trust us—or Uchiha Madara, for that matter."

"So, whether they know about the Eye of the Moon Plan or not doesn't really change much for Nagato and his group. It's clear they don't intend to follow Madara's path to the end either."

Jiraiya sighed, exasperated. "What a pain."

"By the way, are you really planning to deal with the other ninja villages?"

Shūichi replied with a question of his own, "Do you have a better solution, sensei?"

"I won't pin my hopes on mutual understanding among people."

"The pain people experience isn't the same."

"Their ambitions and desires aren't the same either."

"The differences between people are sometimes greater than the differences between a person and a pig."

Jiraiya grimaced. "A person and a pig... isn't that a bit much?"

Shūichi chuckled lightly, then said, "Sensei, I'm heading to Amegakure to talk with Nagato."

"There might still be room for cooperation between us."

With that, his figure disappeared.

Jiraiya shouted, "Hey, take me with you!"

"This kid really doesn't respect his elders!"

Left alone, Jiraiya grumbled to himself before letting out a long sigh. "The future really does belong to the younger generation."

"The Child of Prophecy... Nagato has certainly brought significant change to the shinobi world."

"And Shūichi... The Great Toad Sage's vision didn't even include him. Could it be because of an early demise?"

Scratching his chin, Jiraiya muttered, "What a headache!"

---

At Amegakure, in the core tower, inside Konan's bedroom, Shūichi appeared silently by her bedside.

Asleep already?

Shūichi looked at Konan, who lay there like a sleeping beauty, feeling a bit awkward.

Of all times, why is she sleeping so early today?

Should I just leave?

Avoiding looking directly at her, Shūichi decided to maintain an air of mystery. He took a few steps back and sat at her vanity, keeping his gaze elsewhere.

Perhaps sensing his presence, Konan suddenly awoke with a start. "Who's there?"

Her sharp voice rang out as she abruptly sat up. Her robe slipped, revealing her bare shoulder.

At the same time, sheets of paper flew into the air, quickly folding into high-speed shuriken.

Shūichi smirked and teased, "For a ninja, your vigilance is a bit lacking, Konan."

"It's you!"

Konan frowned as the paper shuriken fell to the ground. Pulling her robe tightly around her, she said, "Barging into a woman's room like this shows a serious lack of manners and decency."

Shūichi, unfazed, grinned and replied, "Apologies. My parents died in the war when I was young. I grew up in an orphanage, raised by a kind woman who taught me many things."

"But I joined the ninja academy at five, graduated as a genin at six, and became a chūnin in the same year... Besides, as an enemy, I think I've already been quite gentlemanly."

"I was admiring you with the utmost respect, after all."

When he was in the orphanage, Shūichi had already displayed a mature and persistent personality, pestering Nonō Yakushi into teaching him ninja skills. It was how he managed to get into the academy.

As for character development... Being a reincarnator, his values were already firmly set.

But the extreme nature of the shinobi world had drawn out his darker side.

Shūichi concluded that if he had developed some twisted tendencies, it was entirely the fault of this twisted world.

Yes, absolutely!

Konan, however, showed no sympathy or empathy for Shūichi's past and replied coldly,

"Then you should be thankful you weren't born in the Land of Rain."

Shūichi nodded. "Indeed."

"A war-torn nation... The fact that you three survived at all is thanks to Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan."

"Of course, I'm not denying your own efforts. But from the moment you met Nagato, your fates were already being manipulated by someone else."

Konan frowned but remained silent.

Shūichi continued, "You're aware that White Zetsu, the one called Tobi, has been captured by me, right?"

"From him, I've learned some shocking truths."

"I'm now certain that Nagato's Rinnegan came from Uchiha Madara. It was transplanted into him when he was just a child."

"And there's more—information about Madara's so-called Eye of the Moon Plan."

"The foundation of Amegakure is too shallow."

"Defeating a single ninja village and annexing it are two entirely different levels of difficulty."

"We aim for peace—a better ninja world—not the destruction of this one."

"Thus, a final confrontation limited to just me and Nagato would be the best way forward."

Nagato responded confidently, "Once I've mastered the power of the Ten-Tails, you won't stand a chance against me."

"In that case, why not join us now?"

Shūichi chuckled. "Not necessarily."

"My greatest advantage is my youth."

"So, what do you say, Nagato? Let's work together first."

"In the end, when it comes to a decisive battle, if you win, I'll become your greatest ally in building a new ninja world."

"If I win, you'll naturally become part of my forces."

"That is... if you even make it to that final battle, Nagato."

Nagato's tone remained cold. "People from the major ninja villages tend to look down on others."

"Shūichi Hoshita, you're far too arrogant."

"Still, I'll agree to cooperate."

"Now, how do you propose we collaborate? Is it just information sharing?"

Shūichi stood up and stretched. "You'll need to recruit talent to gather the Tailed Beasts, won't you?"

"When the time comes, Konan can recruit me, though I'll appear under a different identity."

Konan looked to Nagato for confirmation.

Nagato gave a slight nod.

Konan then said, "Very well. I'll handle the contact going forward."

"But do refrain from showing up suddenly when we're resting—it's incredibly rude."

Shūichi grinned. "My apologies. I assumed tonight might be a sleepless night for you both!"

"By the way, Konan, you are quite captivating."

"Well, that's all for today. I'll be taking my leave now. No need to see me out."

With that, he vanished.

"This guy... He's so frivolous!"

Konan bit her lip in frustration and muttered to Nagato, "It was the right choice not to pick him. He doesn't seem like someone capable of accomplishing great things."

Nagato was silent for a moment before replying, "But he is someone worth envying."

Konan froze for a second, caught off guard.

Nagato turned away. "However, one day, we can be like him... no, even better."

"Konan, you don't have to bear so much on your shoulders. You can pursue your own happiness."

Konan fell silent. As Nagato walked out the door, she finally spoke.

"My happiness... is fulfilling Yahiko's dream!"

If it were possible, she wished she could return to the days when they trained under Jiraiya.

Those had been the happiest days of her life.

Even if Yahiko's dream were fulfilled, such days might never return.

She lay down and closed her eyes, but tears silently escaped.

---

In Konoha, atop the Hokage Rock, Shūichi appeared.

By this time, Jiraiya was no longer present. The once-quiet village was bustling with activity, as the citizens returned from the shelters.

Shūichi also sensed the chakras of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

Whoosh!

Shūichi disappeared, reappearing moments later in his teacher Minato's home.

"Shūichi!"

Minato greeted him warmly.

Stepping forward, Shūichi noticed Kushina leaning against the bed, looking a bit tired but smiling as she gazed at the baby in the nearby crib.

Kushina spotted Shūichi and waved him over. "Shūichi, come take a look at Naruto!"

Naruto. That was the name they had already chosen.

Shūichi approached, reaching out to poke Naruto's cheek. He laughed.

"What a shame. He didn't inherit your red hair, Kushina-san."

Kushina burst out laughing, then said, "Minato's hair color is pretty nice too, don't you think?"

(End of Chapter)

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